Forist gets 60 more days in jail for probation violation

Tuesday

May 20, 2014 at 6:20 PMMay 20, 2014 at 6:20 PM

The 24-year-old from Ionia who is serving jail time on a meth charge will remain in jail.

Karen Botakaren.bota@sentinel-standard.com

A 24-year-old from Ionia who is serving jail time on a meth charge will remain in jail after admitting to violating his probation.Bradley Forist was sentenced Tuesday in Ionia County 8th Circuit Court by Judge Suzanne Hoseth Kreeger to serve 60 days in jail, beginning May 27, when he completes his previous sentence. Kreeger said she had no objection to early release if a bed opens at a residential substance abuse treatment program. Forist will continue on probation."You have a very serious addiction," Kreeger said. "When you bring drugs into the jail, you are a danger to yourself, to other inmates and to officers."Forist was one of three people arrested in October 2013 by the Central Michigan Enforcement Team in connection with a suspected meth lab at a home in the 400 block of West Riverside Drive.He was sentenced in February to 270 days in jail, with credit for 217 days already served, for controlled substance — possession of methamphetamine.Forist's attorney at the time, Karen Constantine, told the court her client wanted to get into a treatment program, and that his prior convictions "were all drug-related.""You need to get serious about addressing your underlying issues," Kreeger told Forist in February. "I hope that now is the time for you, sir. If you are back before this court, you are looking at significant time in prison."In court Tuesday, Forist expressed hesitation about going into a treatment facility because of the availability of drugs there. He questioned his ability to stay away from drugs, and said he just wanted to go home after his release from jail to be with the son "that I barely know."I need rehab," he said. "(But) I'm worried about going to a place where there are people not wanting to be there, and with drugs as a temptation. … I feel like I'm being set up for failure to be there with people who don't want to be there."Kreeger reminded Forist that his offense has prison guidelines of five to 23 months."You're at a point in your life when you can be firm and be there for the right reasons," she said. "You don't have control over other people, but you have control over yourself. Your desire to change has to be enough to at least try."Forist's probation agent, Ted Leslie, told the court that Forist has a history of absconding after sentencing and "a long history of using.""I'm not trying to set you up," Leslie told Forist. "With your drug history here in Ionia, you're going to be faced with drugs. At least (at a treatment facility) you have people monitoring you and you're getting help. You know what you're facing. I can't make you not take drugs."Kreeger told Forist she was concerned about the attitude he has "that you can't do this," and reminded him that a prison sentence is likely if he does not put forth the effort to get clean."It really does come down to you and the choices that you make. The type of conduct you engaged in is robbing your son of a father. There is nothing more satisfying than being a healthy parent who is there for your son," Kreeger said. "I want you to be reflecting on the ability you have to say 'no.' … There is nothing I'd like better than to see you successfully discharged from probation."Follow Karen Bota on Twitter @KarenB_ISS.